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Ijaw Leader Tasks Ibori Over Delta Liaison Office

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
January 21, 2005
Posted to the web January 21, 2005

AS the Urhobo community in Lagos prepares to receive Governor James Ibori of
Delta State, coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah has
described the Delta State Liaison office at Ijora, Lagos as an embarrassment to
the people of the state resident in Lagos.
Comrade Evah made the remark while inaugurating the new leadership of Urhobo-
Isoko network in his office.
According to Comrade Evah, "I confronted the Delta State Commissioner for
Finance at NTA studio when we met for a programme three years ago and he said
the new liaison office on Victoria Island would be ready before the end of
2003. Every human being in Lagos passes through Ijora Causeway at least once a
week and the Delta Liaison Office stands tall in the centre like an abandoned
building found in war-torn countries." He added that the grasses and trees
growing on top of the building was a result of terrible decay and if urgent
rehabilitation job is not carried out, it may collapse at any time.
The Niger Delta activist regretted that he had written several letters to the
governor to do something about the Liaison Office without response.
According to the former Publicity Secretary of Ijaw National Cogress, "the
liaison office is like a country's embassy abroad and a state like Delta that
is a mini-Nigeria is supposed to regard its liaison office as the symbol of
unity of the big heart where we have the highest number of Deltans outside our
homeland, Niger Delta." He urged Ibori to visit the Ijora office and see things
for himself, adding that the physical outlook of the Ijora Office has lowered
the integrity of Deltans in Lagos.
The Ijaw leader urged the new leaders of Urhobo-Isoko network to work harder
like their predecessors so that more Urhobo and Isoko, especially youths living
within the South-West of Nigeria, may benefit from their programmes of
empowerment, employment as well as educational aides for indigent students.
He specifically thanked Chief Albert Okumagba, Chief Showe and Richard Mofe-
Damijo for acknowledging his letters of appeal to buy JAMB and GCE forms for
indigent Urhobo and Isoko students in Lagos through the organisation.
Responding on behalf of the group, the new president, Mr. Godspower Okerethe
who took over from Mr. Ezekiel Ebase pledged to do their best to alleviate the
suffering of Urhobo and Isoko youths living in Lagos and other South-West
states. He commended Comrade Evah for sacrificing his time, money and energy to
uplift the standards of living of Niger-Deltans.

   

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